How to Introduce Hamsters to Each Other

It is possible to keep two hamsters in one cage, though hamsters will often fight. Watch your hamsters carefully in the beginning to make sure they get along.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fruits
• Cage
• Fruits

1. Start with litter mates. This is the easiest way to guarantee two hamsters will get along. If they were born together, they will need no introduction to each other. Keeping two of the same sex works best and is most practical, otherwise you will soon have baby hamsters.

2. Buy young hamsters, three to seven weeks old is best. Dzungarian Dwarf hamsters, short dwarf hamsters and Russian hamsters supposedly can live happily together.

3. Keep the two hamsters separate, initially, if they are not litter mates.

4. Remove one hamster from its cage and put it in a box for a few minutes. Remove the second hamster and place it inside the first hamster's cage. Put the first hamster into the second hamster's cage. Let the hamsters stay in each other's cages for several hours, then return each hamster to his own, individual cage.

5. Repeat this for several days. At first, the hamsters may appear nervous when in the other's cage, but after a few days, each hamster should appear comfortable. Time to move on to the next phase of introduction.

6. Put the hamsters down on the floor in an enclosed room to exercise together. Make sure the doors and heating registers are closed, and that any dangerous objects are removed.

7. Allow the hamsters to interact in the wide open space of the floor. Observe their behavior. Do they sniff each other? Do they play close to each other? Or do they tussle, or try and bite each other? Repeat this process as often as you can for several days.

8. Buy a bigger cage. Try to get one at least twice the size of your original cage. The less cramped the hamsters are, the less claustrophobic they feel, and they'll be more likely to get along.

9. Move them into the bigger cage together. Observe them closely for the first 24 hours, especially in the evening, when hamsters are most active. If they are going to fight, it is more likely they will do so when they are awake and energetic.

10. Monitor their behavior over the next few months. Sometimes it takes a while for hamsters to decide they don't like one another. If you see them tussling, biting or find that one is cornering or bullying the other, separate the hamsters.

Tips & Warnings

• Frequent exercise, a large cage that is kept extra clean and plenty of food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, will help keep hamsters in a good mood. If they are in a good mood, they are more likely to get along with one another.
• If you put a male and female hamster together, you will soon have many babies. It is probably best you not breed hamsters unless you have several adoptive homes lined up and waiting for hamster babies, as they multiply quickly.
• Male hamsters have been known to eat hamster babies.

[mememememememe]

on 6/30/2009 i had a female hamster and then i thought if i had two female hamsters they wouldent fight.but when i put the new hamster in cage 1 she was nervous.I put hamster 1 in the same cage.They sniffed eachother fo a while then old hamster started biting hamster 2

[mememememememe]

on 6/30/2009 I have a hamster for a couple of moths.Then i thought if i had two females they woulden't fight.But when i put the new hamster in cage 1,then i put the old hamster in the cage.they sniffed eachother for about a minute or two.Then the old hamster attacked the young hamster.

[dereus]

on 7/27/2008 im one lucky person i own 4 syrian hamsters an they all live to gether for about 3 mounth and they dont fight each other but they like to race around my bedroom in their little balls.

[vcfc8050]

on 12/9/2007 is there ani way to stop the hamsters from fighting?

on 8/8/2006 Never keep two Syrian hamsters together. They will fight and will end up being badly injured, they could even die.